Virginia State Route 163
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 163 (SR 163) is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. The state highway runs 6.74 miles (10.8 km) from U.S. Route 501
and US 29 Business in Lynchburg
north to US 29 Business in Madison Heights
. SR 163 is the original alignment of US 29
through Lynchburg, a highway has been twice bypassed: first by the Lynchburg Expressway and later by US 29's present bypass. The state highway provides access to downtown Lynchburg and many other historic neighborhoods of the independent city
.
. There is no direct access from southbound SR 163 to northbound US 29 and southbound US 501, or from southbound US 29 and northbound US 501 to northbound SR 163. The missing movements are made via SR 163's intersection with SR 128
(Candler Mountain Road), which has a full interchange with US 501 and US 29 Business (Lynchburg Expressway) to the east. SR 163 continues north as Wards Road across Norfolk Southern Railway
's Blue Ridge District to US 460 Business (Fort Avenue). The two highways run concurrently
northeast as a four-lane undivided highway to the Fort Early and Jubal Early Monument
, where SR 163 diverges north as two-lane Memorial Avenue at an acute intersection. Access from southbound SR 163 to eastbound US 460 Business and from westbound US 460 Business to northbound SR 163 is provided through Oakridge Boulevard.
SR 163 continues north toward downtown Lynchburg. The state highway intersects US 221
(Oakley Avenue) and US 501 Business (Langhorne Road) and passes the historic home Centerview
before crossing Norfolk Southern's Danville District rail line and becoming 5th Street. SR 163 passes the Old City Cemetery, Pyramid Motors
, and the Kentucky Hotel
on its way to a roundabout
with Federal Street. Federal Street leads northwest into the Garland Hill Historic District
, which contains the historic Lynchburg Hospital
; and southeast into the Federal Hill Historic District
, which preserves the William Phaup House
, Lynch's Brickyard House
, and the Dr. Robert Walter Johnson House and Tennis Court. SR 163 continues northeast along the northern edge of downtown Lynchburg, passing by the Western Hotel
and near many more historic buildings and cultural sites in the Court House Hill-Downtown
and Lower Basin
historic districts in downtown Lynchburg.
At the northern corner of downtown Lynchburg, SR 163 intersects the one-way pair
of Church Street and Main Street, which combine to head northwest as Rivermont Avenue toward the Daniel's Hill
and Rivermont
historic districts. The state highway exits the city as Amherst Highway on a four-lane bridge over the James River
and CSX
's James River Subdivision into Amherst County
. After reducing to two lanes and ascending out of the river valley, SR 163 meets the western end of SR 210
(Colony Road), which connects the highway with US 29 Business and US 29. The state highway continues north through a partial diamond interchange
with US 29 Business (Lynchburg Expressway) that allows access from SR 163 to southbound US 29 Business, from northbound US 29 Business to SR 163, and from southbound US 29 Business to southbound SR 163. SR 163 gains a second lane northbound for its final stretch to its northern terminus at an intersection with US 29 Business that serves as the northern end of the Lynchburg Expressway. US 29 Business continues north as Amherst Highway through Madison Heights before reaching US 29 just south of Amherst
.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. The state highway runs 6.74 miles (10.8 km) from U.S. Route 501
U.S. Route 501 in Virginia
U.S. Route 501 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Buena Vista, Virginia. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the North Carolina state line near Cluster Springs north to its northern terminus at US 60 in Buena Vista...
and US 29 Business in Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
north to US 29 Business in Madison Heights
Madison Heights, Virginia
Madison Heights is a census-designated place in Amherst County, Virginia, United States. The population was 11,584 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. SR 163 is the original alignment of US 29
U.S. Route 29 in Virginia
U.S. Route 29 is a major north–south route in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It covers from the North Carolina border at the city of Danville to the Key Bridge in Washington, D.C....
through Lynchburg, a highway has been twice bypassed: first by the Lynchburg Expressway and later by US 29's present bypass. The state highway provides access to downtown Lynchburg and many other historic neighborhoods of the independent city
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
.
Route description
SR 163 begins as Wards Road, a five-lane road with center turn lane, at a partial interchange with US 501 (Lynchburg Expressway) and US 29 Business (Wards Road) adjacent to the River Ridge Mall on the south side of Lynchburg. Wards Road continues south as US 29 Business toward a junction with US 29 and US 460U.S. Route 460 in Virginia
U.S. Route 460 in Virginia runs east–west through the southern part of the state. It has two separate pieces in Virginia, joined by a relatively short section in West Virginia...
. There is no direct access from southbound SR 163 to northbound US 29 and southbound US 501, or from southbound US 29 and northbound US 501 to northbound SR 163. The missing movements are made via SR 163's intersection with SR 128
Virginia State Route 128
Virginia State Route 128 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known for most of its length as Mayflower Drive, the state highway runs from SR 163 north to U.S. Route 460 Business and US 501 Business within the independent city of Lynchburg.-Route description:SR 128 begins at...
(Candler Mountain Road), which has a full interchange with US 501 and US 29 Business (Lynchburg Expressway) to the east. SR 163 continues north as Wards Road across Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
's Blue Ridge District to US 460 Business (Fort Avenue). The two highways run concurrently
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
northeast as a four-lane undivided highway to the Fort Early and Jubal Early Monument
Fort Early and Jubal Early Monument
The Fort Early and Jubal Early Monument was started in the early 1700. consists of the remains of an American Civil War fort and monument located on a site at Lynchburg, Virginia. Confederate forces under the command of Lt. Gen. Jubal Early constructed the roughly square earthen fort in June 1864...
, where SR 163 diverges north as two-lane Memorial Avenue at an acute intersection. Access from southbound SR 163 to eastbound US 460 Business and from westbound US 460 Business to northbound SR 163 is provided through Oakridge Boulevard.
SR 163 continues north toward downtown Lynchburg. The state highway intersects US 221
U.S. Route 221
U.S. Route 221 is a spur of U.S. Route 21. It runs for 734 miles from Perry, Florida at US Routes 19/98/ALT 27 to Lynchburg, Virginia at U.S. Route 29 . It passes through the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia...
(Oakley Avenue) and US 501 Business (Langhorne Road) and passes the historic home Centerview
Centerview (Lynchburg, Virginia)
Centerview is a historic home located at Lynchburg, Virginia. It is a two-story brick house completed in 1871 in the Greek Revival style. The dependency, which is similar in construction and detail to the main house but which may date to 1861, is a one-stay gabled brick building and originally...
before crossing Norfolk Southern's Danville District rail line and becoming 5th Street. SR 163 passes the Old City Cemetery, Pyramid Motors
Pyramid Motors
Pyramid Motors is an historic building located at Lynchburg, Virginia, United States. It is a one-story building with a yellow brick façade with contrasting red-brick details constructed in 1937...
, and the Kentucky Hotel
Kentucky Hotel
The Kentucky Hotel is a historic building located at Lynchburg, Virginia. It is one of Lynchburg's three remaining early 19th century ordinaries. It was probably built before 1800, and is a -story structure of brick laid in Flemish bond...
on its way to a roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
with Federal Street. Federal Street leads northwest into the Garland Hill Historic District
Garland Hill Historic District
The Garland Hill Historic District is a national historic district located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The area is a small residential neighborhood incorporating the summit of one of the numerous hills surround downtown Lynchburg. The neighborhood was home to many of Lynchburg's oldest and most...
, which contains the historic Lynchburg Hospital
Lynchburg Hospital
The Lynchburg Hospital is a historic hospital complex located on the corner of Federal Street and Hollins Mill Road in Lynchburg, Virginia. It consists of the main hospital building, the nurse's home, an office building, a picnic pavilion, a storage building, and a boiler building. It was built in...
; and southeast into the Federal Hill Historic District
Federal Hill Historic District (Lynchburg, Virginia)
The Federal Hill Historic District is a national historic district located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The district includes some one dozen residential blocks in the heart of Lynchburg spread over . The district's architecture consists primarily of free-standing brick or frame houses in a variety of...
, which preserves the William Phaup House
William Phaup House
The William Phaup House is a historic home located in Lynchburg, Virginia. It is a modest two story, four bay Federal style brick dwelling constructed about 1817...
, Lynch's Brickyard House
Lynch's Brickyard House
Lynch's Brickyard House is a historic home located at Lynchburg, Virginia. It consists of dwelling built about 1849, and two garages built about 1922, all of which are constructed directly on the lot line along Jackson Street....
, and the Dr. Robert Walter Johnson House and Tennis Court. SR 163 continues northeast along the northern edge of downtown Lynchburg, passing by the Western Hotel
Western Hotel (Lynchburg, Virginia)
The Western Hotel, or Joseph Nichols' Tavern, is a historic building located at Lynchburg, Virginia. It is the last of the city's many ante-bellum taverns and ordinaries, and is an important example of early Federal-style commercial architecture. It stands at what was for many years the western...
and near many more historic buildings and cultural sites in the Court House Hill-Downtown
Court House Hill-Downtown Historic District
The Court House Hill—Downtown Historic District is a national historic district located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The area is situated on a promontory overlooking the Lower Basin Historic District on the south bank of the James River...
and Lower Basin
Lower Basin Historic District
The Lower Basin Historic District is a national historic district located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The district defines a commercial and industrial warehouse area located between the downtown commercial area to the south and the James River waterfront to the north...
historic districts in downtown Lynchburg.
At the northern corner of downtown Lynchburg, SR 163 intersects the one-way pair
One-way pair
A one-way pair, one-way couple, or just couplet is a pair of parallel, usually one-way streets that carry opposite directions of a signed route or major traffic flow, or sometimes opposite directions of a bus or streetcar route....
of Church Street and Main Street, which combine to head northwest as Rivermont Avenue toward the Daniel's Hill
Daniel's Hill Historic District
The Daniel's Hill Historic District is a national historic district located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The district stretches along the prow of a narrow, elongated hill bordered by the James River on the east and Blackwater Creek on the west. This hill has very steeply sloped sides and is located...
and Rivermont
Rivermont Historic District
The Rivermont Historic District is a national historic district located in Lynchburg, Virginia. It is a district consisting of the 300-3400 blocks of Rivermont Avenue as well as Riverside Park and a few properties alongside streets that face onto Rivermont Avenue...
historic districts. The state highway exits the city as Amherst Highway on a four-lane bridge over the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
and CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
's James River Subdivision into Amherst County
Amherst County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,894 people, 11,941 households, and 8,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 67 people per square mile . There were 12,958 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile...
. After reducing to two lanes and ascending out of the river valley, SR 163 meets the western end of SR 210
Virginia State Route 210
State Route 210 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. It runs from State Route 163 at Madison Heights across the Lynchburg Expressway to U.S. Route 29.-External links:*...
(Colony Road), which connects the highway with US 29 Business and US 29. The state highway continues north through a partial diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
with US 29 Business (Lynchburg Expressway) that allows access from SR 163 to southbound US 29 Business, from northbound US 29 Business to SR 163, and from southbound US 29 Business to southbound SR 163. SR 163 gains a second lane northbound for its final stretch to its northern terminus at an intersection with US 29 Business that serves as the northern end of the Lynchburg Expressway. US 29 Business continues north as Amherst Highway through Madison Heights before reaching US 29 just south of Amherst
Amherst, Virginia
Amherst is a town in Amherst County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,251 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Amherst County.Amherst is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.